Asian Culture

By: Ashley Gregerson

Asian Foods• There are three dietary cultures of Asia. • The first is known as the southwest style and has foods from India,

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Burma. In this dietary culture it is popular to use hot peppers, black pepper, cloves and other strong spices. Nan (a flat bread) is one of the foods in this region.

• The second is the northeast tradition including China, Korea and Japan. This tradition emphasizes fats, oils and sauces. The Northeast culture promotes living a long, healthy life.

• The third is the southeast style that includes cuisines from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. This dietary culture emphasizes aromatic and lightly prepared foods.

Asian Clothing History

• Central Asia is pretty far north, so it’s pretty cold there. Clothes were pretty important to keep you from freezing to death. Asian people actually invented sewing! The world oldest bone and ivory needles come from Kotenski (modern Russia) from about 4,000 B.C.

• The first people to actually wear clothes were the ones who walked from Africa to west Asia. They wore furs and leathers from the animals that people hunted and killed.

• People learned how to tell what group of people you belonged to by the clothes you wore. There were many different cultures that came in contact with.

• The picture in the back round is plaid wool fabric from Western China 1,000 B.C.

Modern Day Clothing

• The kimono is a Japenese traditional garment worn by women and children. They are mostly worn by women during special occasions. Unmarried women wear a special type called Furisode.

• Unlike women, men no longer wear traditional clothing. The traditional dress for men was not as elaborate as women’s dress. The different men’s styles didn’t differ very much among the various ethnic groups.

• The numerous amounts of ethnic groups in Thailand have produced a wide variety of cotton and silk textiles.\

A traditional kimono dress (left) and a custom Chinese robe (right)

Human trafficking

• Human trafficking is the practice of people being lured, trick and coerced or otherwise removed from their home or country. They are compelled to work with no or low payment or on terms which are highly exploitative. The human trafficking victims can be used in a variety of situations including prostitution, forced labor and other forms of involuntary servitude.

• Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world

• The United Nations estimated about 2.5 million from 127 countries

Foot Binding in China

• Foot binding has been popular for young girls and women in China for thousands of years, beginning in the 10th century.

• The process started before the foot had fully developed an arch, usually in the ages between three and eleven. First the foot would be soaked in warm herbs and animal blood. Then the toenails were cut back as far as possible. Then the toes were pressed down, enough to break. Toes were then held firmly against the foot. Then the wrapping began. The feet were bound in a figure eight, then sewn tightly so the young girls couldn’t unwrap them. This whole process was very painful.

• Picture on the top right is the same as the bottom right.

ASIAN ANIMALS• In the upper-left corner is a picture of a Crane. They are long legged and long

necked birds. They actually fly with their necks outstretched. They live on all continents except for Antarctica South America. They change their diet according to the season. Most of the time it is smaller rodents, insects, berries or fish. Cranes have little “dances” they do. Some species migrate over long distances, while others do not migrate at all.

• In the upper-right corner is a picture of a Tiger. They are one of the largest of the four big cats. They live in eastern and southern Asia. They are carnivore, which means that they only eat meat. Siberian taiga, open grasslands or tropical swamps is where you can find these animals. The most numerous species is the Bengal tigers, while the largest species is the Siberian tiger.

• In the background picture is the Giant Panda, which means “cat foot, black and white”. Panda’s are native to central-western and south-western China. They usually live on mountain ranges too. They eat 99% bamboo. It also eats other grasses and fruits. In recent decades the Giant Panda has also been the emblem for the country.

Asian Holidays

• Dragon Boat Festival- Is known as a double fifth fesitval because it occurs on the fifth day of the fifth moon on the lunar calendar. During this holiday they race dragon boats, eat zongzi (large rice wraps) and drink wine. Picture in bottom right corner

• Others are:• Chinese New years• Golden week• Leap Day• Mid Autumn festival• Ching Ming Festival